Eight months and three days. That’s how long football fans have been waiting since the Green Bay Packers last played a game on January 10th, and now the wait is over. The 2026 regular season kicks off for them against a brutal divisional opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, right in their house at U.S. Bank Stadium. It’s a huge Sunday afternoon matchup, marking the end of the offseason grind, and believe me, the Packers are looking for a totally different vibe than their last visit to Minneapolis.
Remembering the 2025 Disaster at U.S. Bank?
Last time the Packers stepped foot in U.S. Bank Stadium for a regular season game, it was Week 18 of 2025. Yeah, *that* game. With a Wild Card spot already clinched, Green Bay basically put their feet up, resting almost every single starter. And it showed, big time. We’re talking a net of *minus-7 passing yards* behind quarterback Clayton Tune. Minus. Seven. Passing. Yards. That’s not a typo. The Vikings won that one 16-3, with J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer doing way more than Tune could. Before that absolute shocker, the Packers actually handled the Vikings pretty well in Week 12 of 2025, taking them down 23-6 at home. But heading into this 2026 opener on the road against a familiar foe, the memory of that Week 18 performance has to be a little bit of a ghost in the locker room.
History, Odds, and the Jefferson Factor
This isn’t just a rivalry game, it’s a history lesson. The Packers hold the regular season head-to-head edge 66-60-3, but the postseason is dead even at 1-1. And speaking of history, who could forget the last Week 1 clash between these two? That was back in 2022, and it was a tough day if you were a Packers fan. Minnesota steamrolled them 23-7, largely thanks to a monster game from Justin Jefferson, who hauled in 9 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Will that kind of single-player dominance rear its head again? We’ll find out Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 3:25 PM Central Time. CBS has the broadcast, with Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt on the call. The Vikings are favored by 1.5 points, with an over/under total of 46.5. This isn’t just an opener; it’s a statement game.
With most of their key players expected to be available, this Packers team isn’t the one that mailed it in last time at U.S. Bank. This is a fresh start, a chance to set the tone for the entire 2026 season. Get ready, because Week 1 is always wild, and with these two, it’s going to be a battle from the jump!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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